Methods of assembling by sewing the cover pieces of baseballs on baseball cores



April 20, 1965 J. FossA 3,179,075

METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES .0F BASEBALLS 0NBASEBALL CORES Original Filed No v. 5, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 .1 i@ 11-lg 'f L In iuenzoz Jose/oh Fossa 90 'By his Azorney April 20, 1965 J.FossA 3,179,075

METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES OF BASEBALLS ONBASEBALL CORES Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg April20, 1965 J. FossA METHODS 0F AssEMBLING BY SEWING THE' COVER PIECES 0EBAsEBALLs oN BASEBALL coREs Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 l0Sheets-Sinaai'I 3 April 20, 1965 3,179,075

. F SA METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES OF BASEBALLS ONBASEBALL CORES Original Filed NOV. 5, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet '4 Apnl 20,1965 J. FossA 3,179,075

METHODS 0F ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES 0F BAsEBALLs 0NBASEBALL coREs Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. FossA3,179,075 METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES April Z0,1965 OF BASEBALLS ON BASEBALL CORES Original yFiled NOV. 5, 1959 lOSheets-Sheet 6 April 20, E965 J. FossA 3,179,075

METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES OF BASEBALLS ONBASEBALL CORES Uriginal Filed Nov. 5, 1959 Al0 Sheets-Sheet? pni 20,1965 J. FossA 3,179,075

METHJDS 0F ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECE-s 0F BAsEBALLs oNBASEBALL CoREs Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 April zo,196s J. FOSSA 3,179,015

METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING THE COVER PIECES 0F BASEBALLS oNBASEBALL CORES Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 April 20,1965 J, FossA 3,179,075

METHODS OF ASSEMBLING BY SEWING, TEE COVER PIECES OF BASEBALLS ONBASEBALL CORES Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet lO UnitedStates Patent O METHODS F ASSELING BY SEWING THE CVER PIECES 0FBASEEALLS 0N BASEBALL CRES Joseph Fossa, Harniiton, Mass., assignor toUnited Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of NewJersey Qriginai application Nov. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 851,(i59, now PatentNo. 3,099,147, dated July 30, 1963. Divided and this application Feb.28, 1963, Ser. No. 261,633

` 5 Claims. (Cl. i12-262) rilhis invention relates generally to themanufacture of balls, such as baseballs, and is more particularlydirected to methods for preparing the bilo-bate cover pieces of suchball-s to receive a conventional baseball seam and for maintaining thecover pieces under control during the sewing operation so that the seammay be more efciently inserted and without requiring extensive trainingand experience on the part of the operator. This application is adivision of `application Serial No. 851,059, filed in my name onNovember 5, 1959 and now Patent No. 3,099,147.`

One of the most expensive and time consuming operations in themanufacture of a baseball, particularly one intended for Major Leagueplay, is the sewing of the cover. Conventionally, the operation consistsof locating two bilobate cover pieces, which have previously been wettedor mulled, in seam receiving relationship over a Ibaseball core. At thetime of being placed about the core, the cover pieces do not conform tothe core but are fastened thereto with the `ends of one cover pieceadjacent the edges lat the waist of the other cover piece. Thereafter, ahand sewer inserts a pair of double threads through a portion of thecore and progressively laces t0- gether the two cover pieces. As theinsertion of the seam progresses the sewer applies a variable pull uponthe threads to cause the cover piece to conform to the shape of the coreand to bring the two cover pieces into abutment. Because the horsehidefrom which the cover pieces ,are cut and the pull exerted by the sewerare subject to wide variations which are difficult, if not impossible,to measure and which further are interrelated and interdependent,substantial Variations in .the quality and uniforrnity of the productmust be tolerated. 'Ihe alternative, and this is practiced to a certaindegree, is the downgrading of baseballs to markets having less stringentrequirements. The careful examination and qualitative grading are bothtime consuming and costly.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide amethod to achieve greater product uniformity than has hereto-fore beenpossible in the manufacture of -baseballs It is also an object toproduce more uniform baseballs by operators having only such skill ascan be obtained in a few days of training.

Ilt is ano-ther object to separate completely, the conforming of thecover piece to the core from the insertion of the seam iby which thecover pieces are joined together. It is yet another object, toaccomplish the stretching of each cover piece instantaneously, in asingle operation as opposed to the progress-ive stretching of the coverpieces as it is accomplished by means of the tension applied tothesewing thread.

A still further object is to maintain full control of the cover pieceson the baseball core at all times during the sewing operation.`

`In the achievement of the foregoing objects a novel clamp fis employedfor maintaining control over each cover piece and for facilitating therelative positioning of the two cover pieces over the core prior to theinsertion of the seam. Briefly, the clamp consists of two hinged memberstogether having a spherical internal surface and a rbilobate contoursimilar to that of the cover piece but ICC of smaller dimensions so thatwhen the clamp and cover piece are placed with their longitudinal andtransverse center lines in register, a generally uniform margin of thecover .piece isexposed outside the contour of the clamp. Each coverpiece is connected to the edge of a clamp which has a series of openingspositioned to coincide with the thread receiving perforations in themargin of the cover piece, by a series of pins, one pin engaging eachcover perforation and the corresponding opening in the clamp.

A supporting form is employed to receive the .cover piece in unstretchedor passive condition in a convenient position to be engaged bythe clamppreparatory to the insertion of the pin-s. The supporting form has awork engaging surface similar in outline to the cover piece but, likethe clamp, is smaller than the cover piece to permit a generally uniformmargin of the cover piece to extend :beyond the form. in the area of itsWaist the form is generally cylindrical and the end lobes are flatteneds0 that the cover piece is initially sandwiched between the form and theclamp without being stretched. The supporting form is preferablysheathed with a coating of abrasive particles to prevent relativeslipping between it and the cover, particularly when a `slight pressureis exerted upon the clamp. lIn this condition, the pins are insertedthrough the thread receiving perforations in the cover .piece and intothe openings in the edge ofthe clamp.

`Amcording to a Ifeature of the invention, a pair of cover pieces, eachunder the control of a clamp, are placed about a baseball core, and byapplying pressure to the clamps, the cover pieces are stretched toconform to the spherical surface of the core. The two cover pieces arealso relatively positioned on the core so that the threads which areemployed to insert a conventional baseball seam do nothing more thanbring the ed ges of the cover pieces into abutting relationship without,in any way, stretching either cover piece.

Another further feature relaties to the method of inserting the seam inorder .to achieve greater control over the .position of the line ofabutment between the cover pieces than has heretofore been possible. Inaccordance wvith this latter feature, the cover pieces are maintainedunder the control of a clamp up to the point of needle operation, themargin of each piece being progressively released from the control ofthe retaining pins at the time that the thread is passed through thecover perforations.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention areattained by the practice of an illustrative method and by the use ofexemplary apparatus embodying the features already mentioned, to bedescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. l is a view in rige side elevation of a cover and clamp assemblymachine employed in the practice of my method;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line lI--ll of FIG. 1;

FlG. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section showing a baseball coverpiece and underlying form, and means included in the assembly machineofthe preceding iigures for supporting the form;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail View illustrating a portion of amechanism in the assemblyv machine for pressing a clamp intoencompassing relation with the form-supported cover piece; i

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing in perspective the coverpiece supporting form being received in the assembly machine;

FlG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but showing the cover piecehaving been already placed about` the 0 supporting form;

FiG. 7 is a detail view of the cover supporting form;

FIG. 8 is a View similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 but showing Patented Apr. 20,1965 in addition a bilobate clamp according to a feature of theinvention in position over the cover piece;

FIG. 9 is a detail view showing a cover piece supported upon the form ofFIG. 7 and retained in the clamp;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing a portion ofa lobe of the clamp illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken along the lineXI--XI of FIG. 10, showing the relative positions of the form, coverpiece, and clamp;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary View in cross section taken along the lineXII-XII of FIG. 9, showing the cover vpiece bridging a concave portionof the clamp;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary View of two cover pieces and Yfragments ofclamps about a baseball core while the cover pieces are being united bya conventional baseball seam inserted in a novel manner according to thepresent invention; Y

FIG. 14 is a view in cross section taken along the line XIV-XIV'of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is a view on a reduced scale showing a vise useful forconveniently supporting the partsrshown in FIG. 13, while the seam isbeing inserted;

FIG. 16 is a detail view showing a cover piece and a portion of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 together with a hand tool useful forremoving the form from within the cover and for applying the cover pieceto a baseball core;

FIG. 17 is a detail view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 9 andadditionally illustrating a spring device for holding the clamp inengagement with the cover piece until the cover piece can be temporarilysecured to the clamp;

FIG. 18 is a view vin right side elevation of a cover stretching machineemployed in the practice of my method;

FIG. 19Y is a plan view partially in cross section taken along the lineXIX-XIX of FIG. 18;

FIG. 2O is a view in front elevation of the machine illustrated in FIGS.18 and 19;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary View on an enlarged scale showing a pair ofcomplementary cover pieces each retained by a clamp and positioned abouta baseball core by the machine more fully illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 20inclusive, and

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary plan View partially in cross section showingthe component parts of a baseball and the apparatus also depicted inFIG. 21.

The machine illustrated in FIG. 1 is employed for locating a cover pieceabout a supporting form, shown in FIG. 7, as a first step in thepractice of my method. Thereafter a clamp, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, isintroduced about the cover piece in predetermined relative positionleaving a generally uniform margin of the cover piece exposed outsidethe periphery of the clamp. The supporting form, cover piece and clampare removed from the machine of FIG. 1 and held temporarily by a springdevice such as that shown in FIG. 17 while a series of pins,fshown inFIGS. 9 and 11, are inserted through the cover piece and into the clamp,.to secure the entire margin of the cover piece to the clamp. After thishas been accomplished a plier-like tool, shown in FIG. 16, is employedfor rst spreading the clamp slightly so that the supporting form may beremoved from within the cover piece and thereafter further opening theclamp so that the cover piece may be positioned about a baseball core ina second machine such as that illustrated in FIG. 18. A second coverpiece is handled in the same manner as has been described for the firstone and is similarly introduced about the baseball core, the machine ofFIG. 18 being provided with devices for relatively orienting the twocover pieces about the baseball core.

Because the margins of the two cover pieces are closely controlled bythe clamps there is no Wrinlding of the leather as each of the clamps isclosed about the core causing the cover piece to stretch bothlongitudinally and transversely to conform to the spherical shape of thecore, After the two cover pieces have been stretched in correct relativepositions about the core and while they are still under the control ofthe clamps in the machine of FIG. 18, temporary fasteners in the form ofbrads, shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, are inserted through the clamps and thecover pieces and into the core so that the clamps will not be displacedwhen the assembly is removed from the second machine. V'thereafter theas-` sembly of the baseball core, two cover pieces and two clamps, isheld in a vise such as that shown in FIG. 15 and a conventional baseballseam is inserted to secure the two cover pieces in abuttingrelationship. Although the seam is of a conventional type there is animportant variation introduced in its formation in that the cover piecesare progressively released from the control of the clamps by disengagingthe cover pieces from the pins as the seam is being inserted.

It will be seen from the above summary that in sewing baseball covers inaccordance with my method the thread has but a single function that ofholding the cover pieces in abutting relation in the finished ball. Thestresses of conforming the cover pieces over the core are evenlydistributed over the entire margin of each cover piece thereby assuringa far greater degree of uniformity than has heretofore been possible.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 to 7, the form indicated at 10 isprovided according to a feature of the invention to support the coverpiece. The form 1d consists of a body portion 12 of a resilient rubbermaterial in which is embedded an orienting tube 14. To minimize slippageof the cover piece when it is later introduced about the form 10, asheathing of abrasive cloth indicated at 16 is provided.

In the cover and clamp assembly machine, the form I@ is received upon abase 18 where it is oriented upon a stationary locating stud Ztlupstanding from the base and so located that the form is nested upon theupper surface of the base. For engaging the upper surface of the form 1@a movable member is provided and includes a nesting plate 22 having aform-contacting surface similar to that of the base 1S. The plate 22 issecured on a movable carrier 24 and is perforated to receive the reduceddiameter of a locating stud 26 which is secured by a nut 28 to the armcoaxially with the stud 20. The carrier 241 also supports a locatingmember 34B interposed between the plate 22 and the arm, a similar member32 being provided on the base 13. The carrier dais iixedly supportedupon a slide bar 34 which is vertically movable in the frame indicatedat 36. In FIG. 5 the carrier 24 is shown'in position to receive the form10. In FIG. 6 the carrier 2d has been lowered to engage the form 10 anda cover piece indicated at 38 has been wrapped about the form, its edgein contact with the locating vmembers 3d and 32, which together provideboth widthwise and lengthwise positioning of the cover piece on theform. As in conventional covering of baseballs, the cover pieces aremoistened or mulled so that the leather will more readily stretch andconform to the baseball core.

The bilobate clamp indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 isthen brought into engagement with the outer surface of the cover piecepreparatory to connecting the margin of the cover piece to the clamp.The clamp 40 is constructed of two similar rigid members identified bythe reference numerals do and 43 (FIG. 17), the part 48 being theshorter of the two as will be explained. About the periphery of the twomembers 46 and liti isa series of perforations or openings 5t? arrangedto receive pins 44 inserted through the perforations 42 of the coverpieces 33.

The clamp dit illustrated herein is intended to operate upon a baseballor major league quality in which the cover perforations are located inexactly the same relationship with the dimensions of the cover parts asin baseballs manufactured by conventional methods. Each cover piece of aconventional major league baseball has 104 perforations so positionedthat two lie upon the longitudinal center line and two 'upon thetransverse center line of each cover piece. The remainder of theperforations are so located that the threads joining the two coverpieces over a core cross at uniform distances along the abutting edgesof the two cover pieces. The parts 46 and 48 of the clamp are connectedby a spring hinge 52 (FIG. 9) having a narrow waist and forked ends andpositioned at the bottom of a slot 54 having a figure eightconfiguration in the parts 46 and 48 of the clamp. The hinge 52 issecured to the parts 46, 48 by four rivets 58 inserted through each endof the hinge and into each of the parts 46, 48. The member 46 is madelonger than the member 4S as shown in FIG. 17, so that the abutment ofthe parts lies between the cover perforation on the transverse centerline of the cover piece and the adjacent cover perforations. By thisexpedient it is possible to maintain the same arrangement ofperforations in baseballs manufactured in accordance with my method asin those manufactured by conventional processes and at the same timeavoid difficulties which would arise if a pin 44 were inserted at thejunction of the two parts. It will be readily appreciated, however, thatby shifting the pattern of perforations slightly in the cover piece sothat the longitudinal and transverse center lines lie between adjacentperforations, a minor change in the conventional baseball, it ispossible to make the two parts of the clamp of equal length.

As may be seen in FIG. 8 the cover and clamp assembly machine isprovided with devices for locating the clamp 40 over the form-supportedcover piece. These devices include an outboard locator in the form of akey di) arranged to engage the slot 54 at the waist of the clamp. Inorder that the lobes ofthe clamp may be readily positioned each isformed with a socket consisting of a cylindrical opening 62 intersectedby a shallow slot 64 (FIG. 9). The cover and clamp assembly machine isprovided with a pair of iingers or locators 66, one of which is shown inFIG. 8, for iirst engaging the slot 64 and then entering the cylindricalopening 62 as the clamp is seated over the cover piece 3S. Each fingerd6 is fixed upon the distal end of a short arm 68 fast upon a shortvertical shaft 7@ journaled in a bracket 72. At the lower end of eachshaft 71B is fixed a second arm 7 4 generally parallel to but somewhatlonger than the arm 68 and a tension spring 76 is stretched between thetwo arms 74 to urge the two locators 66 into engagement with the clamp40. Rearwardly of the shaft 7G on each of the brackets 72 is anupstanding fixed pin 73 which limits the inward movement of its relatedlocator 66 toward the axis of the studs Ztl, 26. Cooperating with thepin 78 for limiting the movement of the locator 66 is a lug 30 formedintegral withthe hub of the arm 68.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. l and 2, it will be seen thatfoot-actuated connections have been provided in the cover and clampassembly machine for lowering the locating stud 2-6 and the nestingplate 22 into engagement with the form 1t?. The connections include atreadle S6 pivoted on a shaft 88 iixed in a pair of low floor-supportedstandards 90. The frame 36 of the machine is supported on a bench 92 andthe treadle 86 extends inwardly beneath the bench. A vertical link 94,having a forked lower end, passes through a suitable opening in thebench and is connected to the inner end of the treadle 86 by means of apin 96 through the lower end of the rod and a slot 93 cut in a block 100upstanding on the upper surface of the treadie. surrounding the rod 94is a spring 102 for urging the rod upwardly, the spring being compressedbetween the bench and a collar 16:4 tixed upon the rod. At its upper endthe rod 94 is pivotally connected at 106 to the rearwardly extending armtli of an offset lever also formed with a forwardly extending arm 11i).The offset lever 108, 110

Above the bench and is pivoted on a stud 112 fixed upon the frame 36,and the arm is pivotally connected at its forward end to an intermediatevertical link 114 pivoted at its lower end to the carrier 24. It is thusseen that when the treadle S6 is rotated about the shaft 88 in aclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1, the carrier 24 is raised fromthe position shown in full lines to the position shown in dot-and-dashlines. This movement of the carrier is accompanied by a correspondingmovement of the slide bar 34 which is provided with a pair of adjustablyfixed collars 116, 118 for limiting the uppermost and lowermostpositions respectively of the carrier 24. At its rear the carrier 24 isslotted to receive a stud 120 fixedly upstanding from the frame toprevent angular displacement of the carrier about the post. To preventtipping of the carrier 24 in a vertical plane, the slide bar 34 isretained in widely separated guideways, one below the carrier and theother above between the stop collars 116 and 118.

The cover and clamp assembly machine is also provided with foot-actuatedconnections for bringing the clamp 46 into engagement with theform-supported cover piece. When the clamp 4t) is presented to themachine, the operator depresses the inward end of a treadle 12d to causethe clamp to be engaged first by the key 65) which enters the slot 52 atthe waist of the clamp and presses the clamp yieldingly into engagementwith the cover piece and then by the locators 66 which enter the sockets62, 64, in the lobes of the clamp. The key 60 and the locators 66 notonly retain the clamp in pressing engagement with the cover piece butalso centralize the clamp to expose a generally uniform margin of thecover piece outside the periphery of the clamp. For these purposes thetreadle is `connected by a pin 12S which passes through the forked lowerend portion of a vertical link rod and a slot 132 formed in a block 134integral with the treadle. The rod 136 passes through a suitable openingin the bench 92 and is biased upwardly by a coil spring acting betweenthe bench and a collar 136 fast on the rod. The upper end of the rod ispivotally connected by a pin 13S to a horizontal arm 14d xed upon ashaft 141 rotatable in the frame and also iixedly supporting a bellcrank comprising a vertical arm 142. At its distal end the arm 142 isforked to receive a link 144 to which it is pivotally connected by a pin146. The link 144 is pivoted at its rearward end to a yoke 15dinterposed between a pair of horizontal slide rods 152 at the forwardendsof which the brackets 72 are integrally formed. A stop screw 154 isadjustably locked by a check nut 156 on the arm 142 in position toengage an integral boss on the frame, `thereby determining the mostforward position of the yoke 159, and consequently of the locatorsdd.

' Before the locators d6 enter the sockets 62, 64 in the lobes of theclamp, the key Gti engages the waist of the clamp for seating the clampin encompassingrelation with the cover piece. For this purpose a linkageis provided between the key 60 and a forwardly extending'` arm 153which, with the arm 142,?comprises the bell crank actuated by thetreadle 126. The arm 158 is forked at its forward end and has passingthrough the forked portion a pin 160 free to turn in a slide block 162.A lever 164 (FIG. 4) pivoted on a shoulder screw 16d threaded in theframe is formed at its rearward end with a slot 16S which looselyembraces the block 162. The shoulder 166, which abuts a stop screw 176adjustably locked inV the frame. A pivotal connection 178 is providedbetween the outer end of the lever and a carrier 131i at the atraer/ l?outer end of which the key et? is slidably supported. A torsion spring152 is wrapped about the pivot 173 for urging the carrier to turn in acounterciockwise direction about the pivot and for holding a finger 1&4integral with the carrier, in engagement with an eccentric stop pin 13dadjustably supported in the trarne.

When the treadle 126 is depressed .causing the shaft 141 to turn in acounterclockwise direction, the lever 16d is .thereby moved from itssolid line position toward its dot-dash line position shown in FIG. l.The spring 172 couples the motion of the arm .16d to the leve-r i7@bringing the lug 174 into engagement with the stop screw 176 before thetreadle 126 has been fully depressed. At this time, however, the key di?is still essentially in the Vposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 1relatively to the carrier 18d; that is, it is fully retracted in a slotin the carrier and accordingly is not immediately effective for seatingthe clamp tti on the cover piece 3S. Auxiiiiary mechanism is providedfor seating the clamp about the cover piece 3S, including an actuatinglever 1537 pivoted intermediate the ends `of the carrier 180 andconnected to the key ed lby a slot and block joint indicated at 1%. Asalready indicated the key dii is slidable in a slot in the carrier 180and it is formed with an integral stem 189 which extends through thebottom wall of the slot in the carrier to the slot and block joint 183.For maintaining the key dit in its normally retracted position, a spring19th is compressed between the carrier 13d and the actuating lever 137.After the lug 174 has engaged the stop screw 176 the movement of thelever 170 i-s arrested but lthe lever 164.', continues in motion to alimited extent as the treadile 126 is further depressed.' During thecontinued movement of the lever 164 a cam surface 192 at the inner endof the actuating lever H57 is acted upon by a follower roll 1194rotatably supported on the forward end of the lever 164 to push the keyd@ from its retracted position into engagement with the slot at thewaist of the clamp so that the clam-p is urged into intimate contactwith the form-supported cover piece and the locatore o6 having rstengaged the slot 64 in the lobes of the clamp are now in position to`enter lthe openings d2 thereby cornpleting the orientation of the clampand also being effective for holding the supporting form, cover andclamp in correct relative positions for further processing of the coverpiece.

vFor the next operation to be performed on the cover piece the assemblyconsisting of the form iti, the cover piece 38 and the clamp 44B `isremoved from the machine by iirst operating the treadle 86 to raise thecarrier 24 out of engagement with the form. Thereafter the arms 68 aremanually spread apart to disengage the locators 66 Ifrom the `openings62 of the clam-p and the treadle 126 is operated toret-urn the locatorsand the key dit' to normally inactive positions shown. in full lines inFIG. 1. By applying a small amount of manual ressure to the lobes of theclamp 4d the abrasive cloth sheathing 16 on the form 10 preventsrelative displacement of Ithe parts of the assembly. After removing theassembly from the first machine a spring clip such as that indicated at196 in FIG. 17 may be employed for maintaining the relative positions ofthe parts of the assembly. With the slot 54'; in the ends of the `clampd@ engaged by the legs of the clip 1% a set of pins 44 is thenconveniently inserted through the coverperforations and into theperforations in the edge of the clamp. By connecting the margin of thecover piece in this manner to the edge of the clamp, a cover piece isplaced completely under the control of the clamp for later applicationto a baseball core. It is possible to omit pins in alternateperforations and still retain the cover piece in the clamp but a pin ineach perforation has been found preferable to place the cover entirelyunder the control of the clamp and to eliminate all cover stretchingfunctions conventionally associated with the insertion of the thread.

After. the pins have been inserte-d the ends of the clamp are spreadapart either manually or by means of an expanding tool indicatedgenerally at 1% in HG. 16 and the form 1t? is extracted leaving thecover piece connected by its edge to the clamp `for further processing.The expanding tool 19S is also employed as will be explained forpresenting two cover pieces to the second or cover stretching machine.

The expanding tool 1&8 comprises a pair of leg-s 2M, 2%, the latter oneof which has a forked portion for receiving the leg 21nd on a pivot 2%.VThe leg 20d is longer than the leg `205 and includes an integral hookZit) formed to enter the slot Sd in the clamp. Between the hook 2id andthe pivot 2% the leg 264 is also provided with a pair of guiding studs21.2 lslidable in the leg and urged inwardly by a leaf spring 2:14. Eachof the guiding studs 212 is formed with an enlarged tapered head adaptedto enter the slot ed in'the clamp et) one on each side of thecylindrical opening 62, to guide a key Z defined by the inner margin ofthe longer leg into the slot, to orient the clamp longitudinally in theexpanding tool. En addition, a projection 21rd is formed with acylindrical surface on the leg 294 in position for freely ente-ring theopening 62 of the clamp and a locator 2.18 integral Vwith the longer legalso fits the slot S4 at the waist of the clamp. The leg 2% is .shapedwith an outwardly extending lug on which is pivoted at 22@ a movablehook jaw 222 formed with an integral releasing arm urged outwardly by aspring 226 compressed between the ieg and the arm. Near the pivot 22)the leg Zito is provided with a single guiding stud 227 urged inwardlyby Ya leaf spring 223 `for entering the second slot 61tof the clamp in amanner similar to that described for the studs 2112 to guide a key 229defined by the margin of the leg into the slot. A projection 23d similarto that identified by the reference numeral .216 is also formed on theleg 2% to enter the related cylindrical opening 62. Fornrging the twolegs 2de, 2dr? into engagement with the clamp 4t) a spring 232 iscompressed within telescopically arranged olosed end tubes 23d, 236,each pivoted in a socket in one of the legs.

As has already been stated, the expanding tool 19S is employed forspreading apart the lobes of the clamp d@ so that the form 1@ may beextracted. In addition, the expanding tool 1% is thereafter employed forspreading the lobes of the clamp still farther apart to apply a pair ofcover pieces with their related clamps to a baseball core 24d (FGS. 21and 22), the cover pieces, clamp and baseball core being the componentparts of what will hereafter be referred to as the sewing assembly. Itwill also be appreciated that at the time that the cover pieces arefirst applied to the core each cover piece is disposed in its related.clamp as shown in FIG. 11, in transversely flat condition, that is, thecover piece bridges the distance between the edges of the lobes withoutconforming to the spherical internal surface of the clamp or to theouter surface of the core and the cover pieces `are not relativelyoriented in proper position for receiving a seam to connect themtogether nor are they fastened to the 4core to prevent displacement.Accordingly, the cover stretching machine to which the sewing assemblyis thereafter introduced includes means for orienting each of the clampsd@ about the core and for pressing the clamps onto the core so that thecondition of the cover piece within the clamp is inodied from the'bridging relationship to a condition in which the outer surface of eachcover piece engages substantially the entire inner surface of itsrelated clamp as illustrated in FIG. 14. The process of changing theshape of each cover piece from the transversely dat condition to that inwhich it conforms to the core is referred to herein as spherifying andis accomplished in the cover stretching machine which will hereafter bedescribed.

For convenience the cover stretching machine shown in FIGS. lS toinclusive, is mounted alongside the already-described assembly machineIupon the bench 92 and includes `a frame 242 secured by means of fourbo-lts 244 to the top of the bench. For receiving one of the clamps ofthe sewing assembly yand orienting its llongitudinal center line in avertical plane the cover stretching machine includes a locating stud 246upstanding in a bracket 247 integral with and extending forwardly fromthe machine frame 242 and an arcuate key 248 extending `fore and aft ofthe stud. The stud 246 is adapted to enter the cylindrical opening 62and the key 248 engages the slot 6din the lower lobe of the verticalclamp to orient the 4clamp in a predetermined vertical plane generallynormal to the front edge of the bench 92. There is also provided in thecover stretching machine, locating means for engaging the upper lobe ofthe vertical clamp, comprising .a horizontal otset .carrier arm 256mounted for vertical sliding movement on a guide post 252 rigidlysupported in the frame. At its forward end the arm d carries a guidestud 25d and an arcuate key 256 capable of being moved into engagementwith the `socket in the upper lobe of the vertical clamp 49.

Movement is imparted to the arm 25d by foot actuated connect-ionsincluding a treadle 258 pivoted on a shaft 260 supported in a pair offloor mounted standards 262. -Beneath the bench 92 thetreadle 258 isconnected to a vertical link rod 264 by means of a pin 266 which passesthrough the lower end of the rod and through a slot formed in anintegral upstanding projection 267 on the treadle and the link rod isurged upwardly by a spring 268 compressed between a collar 269 (FIG. 20)fixed upon the rod and the bench 92. The upper end of the rod 264 hasloosely fitted to it an adapter 27d backed by a pair of check nuts 272and pivotally connected to an arm 274 secured to a shaft 276 upon whichanother arm 278 is also secured. The arm 278 is pivoted at 280 to a link232, which link, together with the arm 278, comprises a toggle forraising and lowering the carrier arm 25d. A shoulder screw 2&4 retainedby a nut 236 connects the .other end of the link to the carrier arm 250and the carrier arm is normally maintained in its inactive positionshown in so-lid lines in FIG. 18 by a tension spring 283 stretchedbetween the carrier arm and an upper portion of the frame 242. In orderto prevent rotation of the arm 25o in a horizontal plane about the post`252 a second short post 29@ is iixedly supported in upstauding positionlat the rear of the base 242 and is embraced by a rearwardly extendingforked portion of the carrier arm.

When the treadle 25S is actuated to lower the rod 264 the arm 27S andthe link 282 are rnoved `toward and through a position of alinement to alocked position of slight misalinement while bringing the stud 254 andthe key 256 into engagement with the socket in the upper lobe of thevertical clamp. An unlocking lever 292 is fulcrurned on the shaft 276and provided with a depending arm 294- into the lower end of which isthreaded a limit screw 296 engageable by the link 282 at a point nearthe pivot 230 to arrest the movement of the toggle in locked position.Movement of the lever 292 when the screw 296 is `engaged by the toggleis limited by a stop screw 29o threaded in a forwardly extending earnear the top of the frame and locked by a nut 36). To limit thecounterclookwise movement of the lever 292 when it is actuated to breakthe toggle to allow the `carrier arm 250 to be raised by the spring 283,the underside of the lever is engaged by a stop ringer 362 extendinghorizontally from the iframe.

Similar devices have been incorporated in the cover stretching machinefor operating upon the horizontal cover piece and its clamp, that is theclamp and cover piece having their longitudinal center line disposed ina horizontal plane. In order t'o facilitate the presentation of thesewing assembly to the cover stretching machine the horizontal clamp isfirst engaged by a locator to permit the stud 246 and the key 2455 to beapproached by the vertical clamp in a downward direction from above. Forthis purpose there is provided a locator supporting arm 3M mounted forpivotal movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal shaft Ztl-6ixedly retained in the frame. At its forward end the arm 364 carries alocating stud 328 like those indicated by the reference numerals 246,254i and an arcuate key 3l@ formed like those designated as 248 and 256.To position the horizontal cover piece correctlyjwith respect to thevertical cover piece, thearm 34M is provided with an integral rearwardlyextending iinger 312 which underlies a guide rod '31d iixedly supportedin the frame in generally parallel relationship with the shaft 326.Because of the mounting of the arm 39d the horizontal clamp may first beengaged by the stud 3% and the key 3l@ and then the lower socket or thevertical clamp is brought into engagement with the stud 246 and the key243. The treadle 253 is then actuated to lower the arm 25h causing theupper socket of the vertical clamp to be engaged to spherify thevertical cover piece and securely grip the core 240. Thereafter theremaining lobe of the horizontal clamp is pressed inwardly to spherifythe horizontal cover piece and the two cover pieces are maintainedtemporarily in their alreadyestablished relationship so that aconventional seam is inserted by a hand-sewer employing a minimum degreeof skill.

For the purpose of engaging the remaining socket' of the horizontalclamp liti, there is provided a locating stud 316 and an arcuate key 328on a toggle actuated carrier arm 32d slidable horizontaiiy on the shaft3%. To prevent the arm '32@ from rotating about thel shaft Sitio it hasa forked rearwardly extending portion which embraces the rod 3M.Actuation of the arm 32@ is by means of a treadle 326 formed at itsinner end with an integral upstanding slotted block 328 through the slotof which a pin 33t? passes to connect the treadle to the lower end of avertical link rod 332. At its upper end the rod 332 is pivotallyconnected at 334 to the forward end of a horizontally disposed arm of abell crank 336 pivotally mounted on a stud 33S supported at the rear ofthe frame 242. The rod 332 is urged upwardly, as seen in FiG. 20, by aspring 349 wrapped around it and compressed between the machine frameand a collar 342 fixed upon the rod. For imparting the movement of therod 332 to the arm 32@ the bell crank 336 has a vertical arm pivotallyconnected at 344 to a short horizontal link 346 having its other endpivoted to the central joint 348 of a toggle comprising links 35@ and352. The toggle '3S-tl, 352 is movable in a horizontal plane, the link35i? having its outer end pivotally connected at 354 on the carrier arm322. The outer end of the link 352 is free to pivot on a shoulder screw356 threaded into the frame and a spring 358 is stretched between thecarrier arm 32th and the shoulder screw to resist movement of the togglelinks into positions of alinernent.

For the purpose of limiting the movement of the toggle links 350, 352and for breaking the toggle to return the arm 320 to its inactiveposition shown in full lines in FIG. 19, there is also pivoted on theshoulder screw 356 below the link 352 a lever 360 having an arm 362 intowhich is threaded a set screw 361i adjustably locked by a check nut 366.When the screw 364 is engaged by the link 352 the movement of the lever360 is limited by a stop screw 368 threaded in the frame and locked by acheck nut 376). The screws 364 and 368 are adjusted to arrest themovement of the toggle links after they have passed through the positionof alinernent and are in positions of limited misalinement, in whichmisalined positions, shown in dot and dash lines, in FIG. 19, the toggleis locked until the lever 36@ is operated to break the toggle andthereby release the horizontal clamp 4t?. As has already been explainedfor the vertical cover piece and clamp, the pressure applied to thehorizontal clamp by the carrier arm 320 causes the horizontal coverpiece to be spheriiied, and in addition locates the horizontal coverpiece in the necessary seam-receiving relationship with the verticalcover piece.

After both cover pieces have been spheriiied and before the sewingassembly is removed from the cover stretching machine it is necessarythat the clamps 4t) bevsecured to the core 2li@ so that the cover pieceswill be maintained in seam receiving relationship until a conventionalbaseball seam is inserted. Fastening of the clamps itl to the core 246is accomplished, as is seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, by brads 372 two suchbrads being inserted through each lobe of each clamp. To receive thebrads 372 each lobe is formed with a pair of perforations 374 extendingfrom the bottom of the slot 64 to the interior of the clamp and thebrads are inserted through these perforations, then through the relatedcover piece and into the core 240. The diameter of the brads 372,exaggerated in the drawings, for purposes of clarity, is such that thepuncture in the cover pieces is not a serious disadvantage which in anyevent is either substantially reduced or eliminated all together byrolling the baseball, a conventional step for embedding the seam partlyin the cover piece after the seam has been inserted.

Upon being removed from the cover stretching machine the sewing assemblyis ready for the sewing operation. At this time not only are the clampslll secured in proper relationship on the core by the brads 372 but thecover pieces also adhere to the core Mil which, according to the usualpractice in baseball manufacture, has been coated with cement before thecover pieces are applied. The seam adjoining the margins of the twocover pieces is of conventional form, being inserted with a pair ofdouble cotton threads indicated at 284 in FIGS. 13 to l5, inclusive.`Curved needles 386 are threaded in the usual manner for passing the twodouble threads through the cover perforations 4t2. However, inaccordance with an important feature of the present invention thethreads 384 are not employed to stretch the cover pieces over the coresince this has already been accomplished under the control ofthe clampsin the cover stretching machine.

As the seam progresses, according to my method, the pins 4x4 are pushedback out of engagement with the cover perforations Ll2 and partway intothe slot 54 with which the perforations t) of the clamp are incommunication. Since the pushing back of the pins 44 may conveniently beaccomplished with the point of the needle as it enters the coverperforations 42 it will be appreciated that the contour of each coverpiece is either under the control of the thread or ofthe pins 44.

In the conventional baseball cover sewing the position of the line ofabutment between the two cover pieces and consequently of the seamvaries in accordance with the stretch characteristics of the leather andthe pull applied to the thread by the sewer. In order to achieve anacceptable degree of uniformity by the conventional sewing method a highorder of judgment and experience is accordingly required on the part ofthe sewer. In addition, the balancing of the pull on the two threadsbeing inserted so as to achieve the required degree of uniformitygreatly reduces the effective sewing speed. By contrast, when baseballVcover pieces are sewn together in accordance with my method, the threadsneed be pulled only sutil- Vciently to bring the edges of the coverpieces into abutting relationship, and since the line of abutment isdetermined by rigid clamps the possibility of introducing irregularitiesin the position of the seam are substantially eliminated and a highersewing speed than heretofore attainable may readily be achieved.

For the purpose of presenting the ball at a convenient level for thesewer and to permit the use of both hands for inserting the seam it hasbeen found convenient to employ a vise of somewhat conventional designsuch as that shown in FIG. l5 and comprising a fixed jaw 335, supportedon a bench 396. A movable jaw at 394 on the fixed jaw and connected to atreadle 396. By depressing they treadle 3% the jaws are spread so that asewingV assembly may be received, reoriented or removed from the vise.The treadle 3% is pivoted at its rearward end on a shaft 398 supportedin a floor-mounted standard dal@ and is pivotally connected at 402 to avertical link rod 41%. At its upper end the rod 4M is forked to receivea lateral projectiondilo on the movable jaw 392. and a pin 493 passesloosely through the rod and the projection. For urging the two jaws intogripping relationship with the sewing assembly a spring dit) isstretched between them. To prevent escape of the sewing assembly bydepressing the treadle too far a spring-pressed bumper 412 is mounted onthe treadle and resists excess movement of the treadle when the jawshave been suiiciently opened to permit the sewing assembly to bereoriented as the insertion of the seam continues.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided a novel methodfor applying cover pieces to baseballs but it will also be realized thatwith slight modilications in size, the method already described canreadily be applied, for example, to the manufacture of softballs.JFurther moditications and the value of various parts of the presentdisclosure will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art. lt isaccordingly not intended to confine the invention to the precise formherein shown, but rather to limit it in terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In ball manufacturing, the method comprising the separate steps offirst providing a pair of hat, elongated bilobate cover pieces,constraining the margin of each cover piece, thereafter spherifying eachcover pieceby conforming it to a spherical form while retaining controlof the margin, and securing each spheriiied cover piece to the other bysewing over a ball core while releasing the margin of each cover pieceprogressively as the seam is being inserted.

2. In ball manufacturing, the method comprising the separate steps offirst providing two bilobate cover pieces, then constraining the marginsof each cover piece, thereafter stretching the central portion of thecover pieces over a ball core to cause the pieces to conform to the corewhile retaining control of their margins, and thereafter, whileinserting a conventional baseball seam connecting the margins of the twocover pieces, progressively releasing lcontrol over the margin of thecover pieces near the sewing point.

3. In ball manufacturing, the method comprising the separate steps offirst providing two bilobate cover pieces having regularly spacedthread-receiving perforations in thelr margins, then temporarilyconnecting the margin of each cover piece by pins entering openings inthe edge of a hinged bilobate clamp, thereafter stretching the centralportions of the cover pieces over a ball core to cause the. pieces toconform to the core while their margins remain under the control of thepins and thereafter, while inserting a baseball seam to connect themargins of the two reces together, progressively releasing the marginsof the cover pieces from the control of the clamp'by pushing the ispivoted efmero form and progressively securing each spheried cover pieceto the other over a ball core by a conventional baseball seam Whilereleasing the margin of each cover piece from the form as the scam isbeing inserted.

5. In ball manufacturing, the method comprising the separate steps ofiirst providing two bilobate cover pieces, then constraining the marginof each cover piece, then stretching the central portion of each of thecover pieces over a ball core to cause the pieces to conform to the coreWhile retaining control of their margins, and thereafter, while joiningthe margins of the two separate cover pieces by a seam, progressivelyreleasing control over the margins of the cover pieces near the sewingpoint.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JORDAN FRANKLIN,Primary Examiner.

1. IN BALL MANUFACTURING, THE METHOD COMPRISING THE SEPARATE STEPS OFFIRST PROVIDING A PAIR OF FLAT, ELONGATED BILOBATE COVER PIECES,CONSTRAINING THE MARGIN OF EACH COVER PIECE, THEREAFTER SPHERIFYING EACHCOVER PIECE BY CONFORMING IT TO A SPHERICAL FORM WHILE RETAINING CONTROLOF THE MARGIN, AND SECURING EACH SPHERIFIED COVER PIECE TO THE OTHER BYSEWING OVER A BALL CORE WHILE RELEASING THE MARGIN OF EACH COVER PIECEPROGRESSIVELY AS THE SEAM IS BEING INSERTED.